_'> s Agricultural Manual 



number. By this act he Incurred the enmity of the Iroquois, 

 which ultimately proved fatal for the interests of France m the 

 New World. 



The whole region bordering on the lake was claimed by both 

 France and England, hence it became the great battle ground for 

 supremacy, and the principal highway for war parties in their 

 incursions on the defenseless frontier settlements. The French 

 commenced settlement in various places along the lake. These 

 settlements made considerable progress and thriving villages had 

 sprung up before they were finally laid waste by the invading 

 armies. During the French and Indian War in IT.".!), the whole 

 region, came into the undisputed possession of the English. The 

 forts of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, which had been erected 

 by the French, were enlarged and strengthened. At the outbreak 

 of the Revolution a small body of troops — " The Green Mountain 

 Boys'' under Colonel Ethan Allen — surprised and captured 

 both. The British later recaptured the forts and the whole settle- 

 ment was broken up by Burgoyne. Even after the war was closed 

 settlement progressed but slowly for some time. 



In the town of North Elba is the farm formerly owned by John 

 Brown, of Harpers Ferry fame, now the property of the state. 

 It was while a resident of North Elba that he conceived the idea 

 of liberating the slaves. 



DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY 



At this early period the manufacture of lumber and staves and 

 export to Quebec formed the leading, and in some neighborhoods 

 almost the only, industry. Bafts of great size were formed along 

 the lake shore and guided to the Bichelieu River and down to 

 Quebec, where they were transferred to ships for English mar- 

 kets. The lumber interest reached its greatest activity between 

 1830-40. Enter it began to decline, many turning their attention 

 to agriculture and improved methods of farming, and during the 

 next twenty-five years agriculture advanced rapidly. 



Tanning, which received considerable attention at an early 

 date, became less important as the bark supply diminished. 



After the Civil War iron mining received increased attention, 

 as did also iron and graphite manufacturing and the use of 



